Cheers to hardworking kids! A collection of recommended quotes to gift to children
Have you ever felt the desire to offer words that leave a lasting impression as you watch a child grow? The famous quotes left by great figures are filled with messages that gently encourage children as they embark on their lives: the importance of having dreams, the courage to take on challenges, and the power to believe in themselves.
Short yet weighty words can reach the hearts of even elementary school students with ease.
We have gathered quotes we hope you’ll share at milestones such as graduations, school entries, or times when spirits are low.
Please use them as inspiration for a gift to your child.
Cheers to hardworking kids! A recommended collection of quotes to gift children (1–10)
The worst thing is convincing yourself that you’re no good.Nobita Nobi 'Doraemon'
In Doraemon, we often get the impression that Nobita is the one being encouraged by Doraemon, but these words were actually said by Nobita to Doraemon.
He said them to Doraemon when Doraemon was worried about not being able to talk well with a cat he liked.
These words, which say that putting yourself down is the last thing you should do, teach us the importance of affirming ourselves.
I think many of us have a habit of selling ourselves short, but just as Nobita said, we should live with confidence in ourselves.
If you give up, the game is over right there.Mitsuyoshi Anzai, 'SLAM DUNK'
When you think of the hallmark basketball manga SLAM DUNK, this is the iconic line that comes to mind.
In a game against a far superior high school, the score kept widening due to the difference in ability, and just when everyone was thinking of the word “defeat,” Coach Anzai quietly uttered this one line.
Whether you’re moving up a grade, advancing to a new school, or starting a job, it’s rare for everything to go perfectly smoothly.
When you feel like you’re about to falter or give up, I hope you’ll remember these words and rally yourself.
Watching the SLAM DUNK movie with your child might be a great idea, too!
No success for those without dreams.Yoshida Shōin
Yoshida Shōin, a samurai of the Chōshū Domain, founded the Shōka Sonjuku academy and nurtured figures who went on to play key roles in the Meiji Restoration, earning him the title “Father of the Meiji Restoration.” This famous quote is attributed to Yoshida Shōin.
If you want the result called success, you must first have a dream.
Merely having a dream does not guarantee success, but you at least need to step up to the starting line.
These are words we’d like to give to children who focus only on outcomes—wanting to be rich or famous.
Since they can still become anything, let’s encourage them to dream big!
If you think you can, you can; if you think you can’t, you can’t. This is an unwavering, absolute law.Pablo Picasso
These are famous words by the painter Pablo Picasso, known for works such as Guernica and Weeping Woman.
If you give up thinking you can’t do it, that challenge will end without ever being fulfilled.
On the other hand, if you don’t give up and keep believing in your success, the message is that one day your dream or goal will surely be achieved.
It’s a quote that teaches children, who will take on many challenges from now on, the importance of never becoming negative and continuing forward with faith in success.
You have to fail, or you’ll never succeed.Coco Chanel
Coco Chanel, the founder of the globally renowned brand Chanel and a fashion designer.
Many people find encouragement in this quote of hers.
While many think, “I don’t want to fail,” or “I must not fail,” she teaches us that failure is necessary for success.
Children, too, face times—like entrance exams or competitions—when they feel deep anxiety about failing.
In such moments, share her words with them.
If you don’t give up on moving forward even after failing, that experience has value—it becomes an asset.
Walls (obstacles) only appear to those who are capable.Ichiro (Suzuki Ichiro)
When people feel they’ve hit a wall, they tend to grow resigned.
The words of the baseball player Ichiro can change that negative mindset.
A wall appears before you precisely because you’ve been putting in the effort up to that point.
Conversely, the fact that you don’t hit a wall can be seen as not having pushed yourself that far yet.
For those who hold a negative image of “walls,” this quote can shift their perspective.
With the hope that they will keep growing throughout their lives, consider giving these words to your child.
Genius is an ordinary person who makes an extraordinary effort.Albert Einstein
These are words about genius and effort left by Albert Einstein, the German physicist who was called a genius.
From his words, we can sense that there is no such thing as an inborn genius; everyone starts out ordinary, and those who are called geniuses are simply people who have made extraordinary efforts.
Surely, he himself must have continued to work hard out of the public eye.
Precisely because these are the words of someone hailed as a genius who left numerous achievements, they show just how important effort truly is.
Precisely because we’re serious, we run into walls.Shuzo Matsuoka
These words by former tennis player Shuzo Matsuoka are the kind that give a push to people who are earnestly working toward their dreams and goals.
When you strive to achieve something, you almost always run into difficulties along the way.
But Matsuoka says that’s precisely because you’re taking it seriously.
In other words, issues that you could overlook if you were only half-hearted become things you can’t ignore—and must overcome—because you’re fully committed.
When children face challenges, I’d like to give them these words: “That’s happening because you’re giving it your all.”
Effort can lie, but it’s never wasted.Yuzuru Hanyu
With back-to-back Olympic titles and two World Championship victories, Yuzuru Hanyu has amassed so many accolades that there isn’t enough space here to list them all.
Even after turning professional, his popularity hasn’t waned—every venue echoes with excited cheers.
Of course, behind that dazzling presence on the ice lies an unimaginable amount of effort.
Even if things don’t go well at a new school or company, that hard work will surely bear fruit somewhere.
These are words to remember at some point in a long life.
Please consider sharing them with your child.
So what if you failed? Learn from the failure and just try again.Walt Disney
Walt Disney is often thought to have built Disneyland with effortless ease.
In reality, he was once fired from a job for supposedly “lacking imagination.” After that, he even went on to bankrupt three companies he started himself.
Just hearing this makes you think, “That Disney?!” and gives you courage, doesn’t it? Precisely because these are his words, they carry such weight.
If you’re afraid of failure, you can’t do anything—his wonderful words give a gentle push to a hesitant back.